Preston to hold public sessions on Poquetanuck Cove plans

Preston – With the Norwich Hospital cleanup nearly complete, Preston is ready to take on its next big project.

The town has secured $3.46 million in state grants thus far, has tentative approval for two additional $4 million grants and applied for $3 million more, all for a project to turn the Route 2A area in Poquetanuck from a speedway to nearby casinos or shoreline spots into an inviting village atmosphere.

The town is ready to launch the first phase of the project from Preston Community Park to Poquetanuck Cove, which includes wide walkways, decorative lighting and crosswalks, traffic calming measures to slow down vehicles, public parking areas and a kayak launch at the cove.

The state funding already secured by the town includes a $3 million Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program grant for construction costs, a $400,000 state Community Investment Fund grant for design and planning and another $60,000 from the Recreation Trails Program to enhance the project.

Phase 1 is expected to go out to bid for construction next year. But first, the town agencies working on the project will hold three public forums next week to hear ideas from the public on what they would like to see included in the project.

The Conservation and Agricultural Commission will lead off with a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Town Hall, 389 Route 2, for a presentation by town staff on the status of the project and grants. They will take questions and comments from the public.

On Tuesday, the Preston Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. at Town Hall with a presentation by town staff and the project engineer, who also will take questions and comments from residents.

On Wednesday, the Board of Selectmen will meet at 6 p.m. at Town Hall for a third presentation and question-and-answer session.

“The whole thing started because we wanted to slow the traffic,” Town Planner Kathy Warzecha said. “We’ll have extra traffic signs, crosswalks, maybe some beacons, a plaza area at Schoolhouse Road, so drivers will see the different color and pattern and will slow down.”

The decorative walkway from Poquetanuck Village to the cove is designed to be 5 feet wide, while the area from the Grant’s bed and breakfast at 109 Route 2A to Preston Community Park will be 10 feet wide to better accommodate bicycles.

Warzecha said staff will show maps and design plans, give some options of features being considered and hear ideas from the public. Afterward, project officials will finalize the designs and put the project out to bid next year, Warzecha said.

Conservation and Agricultural Commission Chairman Gary Piszczek said his commission’s biggest concern is with protection of Poquetanuck Cove and public access to the cove.

The town has received tentative approval for another $4 million Transportation Alternatives grant that would help extend the village project from the Preston Community Park to Lincoln Park senior housing. The town also has learned it has tentative approval for another $4 million Local Transportation Capital Improvements Program grant to extend the project to the Route 2A-12 intersection. The project would include safety improvements to the busy intersection across from the former Norwich Hospital/Preston Riverwalk and extend the pedestrian trail to the riverwalk.

The town has applied for an additional $3 million Community Investment Fund grant for design and engineering planning for that portion of the project.

The cleanup of the former Norwich Hospital property is nearly completed, and the town anticipates turning over the property to Mohegan, the development arm of the Mohegan tribe, by the end of this year.

Piszczek said the conservation commission hopes to meet with Mohegan officials to discuss ways to protect Poquetanuck Cove amid the future development and to provide public access to the waterfront areas.

c.bessette@theday.com